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The division of Poland
Early in the morning of September 1st of 1939 the invasion of Poland began - from two sides. As established in the secret clause of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact the Nazis and the Soviets occupied the Western and Eastern sides of the country. England and France after the Appeasement policy finally declared war, but didn't launch an offensive on Hitler, thus called the 'Phoney War'. -
Battle of Britain
This was the first battle after the fall of the neighboring countries of Germany that was lost by Hitler. It also made it possible for Churchill to gather the Allied forces and eventually crush Nazi Germany, because Britain remained free and the Western front - contrary to what Hitler thought - wasn't closed. -
Suicide of Teleki
Pál Teleki comitted suicide due to the pressures of Hungarian and German leaders to run down Yugoslavia. It was especially problematic because the Treaty of Eternal friendship was established in 1940 with the neighboring country and Teleki wanted to keep his word. Although Churchil understood the situation and didn't declare war on Hungary the offensive went down. This event made it obvious that there was no 'no' for the Nazis. -
Bombing of Kassa
After the suicide of Teleki Bárdossy was ready to serve the Third Empire and give Hungarian soldiers to Hitler. A Soviet plane - probably by accident - bombed Kassa, and Hungary had a casus belli to attack the Soviet Union. Thousands of soldiers were sent to the Eastern front where Hungary suffered grave causalties. -
Pearl Harbor
The stronghold of Pearl Harbor was suddenly attacked on a rest day by Japanese planes, which catalyzed the USA to join the Second World War on the side of the Allied forces. Their relationship with Japan already cooled because of Japan's excessive conquers in the Pacific region, but Pearl Harbor made it obvious. The American help made a big difference in the war, and eventually the victory left the United States even more powerful than before. -
Period: to
The year of turning points
During 1942 the Allied powers gained the upper hand against the Axis powers and executed succesful counter-attacks. In June after the 100 victorious days of Japan the USA destroyed all Japanese aircraft carriers at Midway Islands. In Africa the American arrived at Cassablanca and wiped Rommel out of the continent. In 1943 January the Battle of Stalingrad ended with Russian victory - even though with great casualties on both sides - making it possible to counter-attack. -
Catastrophe at Don river
The Second Hungarian Army was sent to the Eastern front to help Hitler against the Soviet Union. It had 40 000 Hungarians killed and 35 000 wounded after the counter-attack of the Russians at Voronezh. -
Operation Margarethe
Horthy tried to reestablish Western relations after the non-stop requirements of Germany from Hungary. He appointed Kállay and started 'secret' meetings with Allied agents but this was obvious to Hitler and in Spring he invited him just to tell that Hungary was being occupied by the Operation Margarethe. Horthy could keep his office but had to appointed Sztójay Döme to please the Nazis somewhat. Edmund Vesenmayer also arrived to Hungary and started the Hungarian Holocaust. -
Fall of Horthy
After Horthy and Kállay unsuccesfully tried to regain relations with the Allied forces the regent had to appoint Sztójay Döme but could stay in office. This was forfeited when in 1944 Horthy tried to avoid the Russian attack on Hungary. He and the leaders didn't prepare the ceasefire with the Soviet Union and Hitler removed Horthy, putting Szálasi in his place. This resulted in the devastation of Hungary and people dying from the Arrow-terror. -
Hiroshima-Nagasaki
After disputes how to make Japan surrender and end the war the new President of the USA, Truman and the military leaders decided to use the atomic bomb. The first was used on Hiroshima in August 6 and on Nagasaki in August 9. The bomb killed around 210 000 people by the end of 1945. After such causalties Hirohito capitulated in September 2 ending World War II.